Adding chicks to a broody

[SuzyB]

In the likely event that my CL eggs dont hatch this weekend, I might have found a source for some copper maran chicks.

My question is, if by a miracle the CL eggs do hatch, with my other two chicks being a week old tomorrow, would I still be able to sneak the new ones under the new mum, as was the intention when I hoped they might hatch within 2 days of each other or is that a really bad idea? Is it to long a gap for her to suddenly have more chicks than she thought?

Or, if they dont hatch, if I got some week old maran chicks so that they were the same age, would it work to put them under her with the other 2?

[RichmondHens]

Unfortunately probably no in both instances. A week is a long time developmentally for a chick and the older ones will be so much more capable than the legbars should they hatch. More importantly, by now the hen will know which chicks are "hers" so will probably reject the little ones.

You could try giving her some more chicks of the same age but there is a big possibility she will reject them so you would end up having to put them under artificial heat. there's no harm in trying, but it might be worth getting heat lamp set up just in case they are rejected.

[SuzyB]

Ok thank you - if I do try with chicks the same age, I'll set the brooder up just in case.